Nonequilibrium thermodynamic potentials for continuous-time Markov chains

DOI10.1103/PHYSREVE.93.012111arXiv1508.01143WikidataQ50714302 ScholiaQ50714302MaRDI QIDQ6264249FDOQ6264249

Publication date: 5 August 2015

Abstract: We connect the rare fluctuations of an Equilibrium (EQ) process and the typical fluctuations of a nonequilibrium (NE) stationary process. In the framework of large deviation theory, this observation allows us to introduce NE thermodynamic potentials. For continuous-time Markov chains, we identify the relevant pairs of conjugated variables and propose two NE ensembles: one with fixed dynamics and fluctuating time-averaged variables, and another with fixed time-averaged variables, but a fluctuating dynamics. Accordingly, we show that NE processes are equivalent to conditioned EQ processes ensuring that NE potentials are Legendre dual. We find a variational principle satisfied by the NE potentials that reach their maximum in the NE stationary state and whose first derivatives produce the NE equations of state, and second derivatives produce the NE Maxwell relations generalizing the Onsager reciprocity relations.

This page was built for publication: Nonequilibrium thermodynamic potentials for continuous-time Markov chains

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q6264249)